Life in the green fast lane

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Single Fixed Gear

A common question I have recieved is “Is the Tesla a stick shift or automatic?” In fact, the transmission has only a single fixed gear. The console looks a bit different. There is the single gear (D), neutral (N) and reverse (R).

A common setting in most cars is “missing” – no park (P). You leave the car and start the car in neutral. Park is not really a gear in a transmission but the condition where the transmission is locked and the rear wheels cannot turn. Tesla accomplishes this with the key system. When the key is in the ACC position, the car is in park mode.